The Saskatchewan government and SaskPower, the Crown power company, plans to expand the province’s “green power” portfolio with more wind power and new projects within the next three to five years. On top of a proposal to expand wind generation in the province by another 100 megawatts (mW) by 2012, the province said it plans […] Read more
SaskPower eyes waste heat, wind
Corn growers drop legal action, focus on WTO
A coalition of corn producer groups in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba that challenged imports of U.S. grain corn in 2005 has decided not to try for one last appeal of the ruling that those imports don’t injure Canadian corn growers. Canadian Corn Producers, which last year lost its trade challenge when the Canadian International Trade […] Read more
Greenbelt training farm to focus on ethnic crops
The University of Guelph’s Centre for Land and Water Stewardship will set up a new training farm for young people and immigrants in the southern Ontario Greenbelt, focusing on ethnic crops such as okra, bitter melon, sweet potatoes and green chilies. The charitable foundation Friends of the Greenbelt today announced a $400,000 grant to the […] Read more
Ridley asks Supreme Court to toss BSE lawsuit
Feed manufacturer Ridley Inc. is making another legal bid to halt a proposed class action suit before it can begin, this time appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada. Ridley, along with the federal government, is the targeted defendant in four co-ordinated lawsuits filed by cattlemen in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Quebec. All four seek […] Read more
CPR to buy northern U.S. railway
In a deal expected to increase its access to grain, ethanol and coal markets in the U.S. Midwest, Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) will pay US$1.48 billion cash to buy the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad Corp. (DM&E), the company announced last night. Headquartered at Sioux Falls, S.D., the DM&E is the only Class II railroad […] Read more
Manitoba lifts stubble burning ban
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives has resumed daily authorizations for stubble burning in the province, following a suspension after a three-car collision west of Winnipeg August 28. Drivers involved in the mid-afternoon crash near Elie complained their visibility was impaired by smoke billowing across the Trans-Canada Highway from an unauthorized stubble burn nearby. The […] Read more
Cheques roll on Ontario COP top-up
Cheques will be in the mail in the next few days to about 30,000 Ontario farmers qualifying for $55 million in funding through that province’s Cost Recognition Top-Up program, the government reported today. The program, first announced June 8 and to be delivered by Agricorp, is a 40 per cent-matching provincial contribution to the $400 […] Read more
Saskatchewan harvest ahead of curve
Farmers in Saskatchewan have 44 per cent of the 2007 crop harvested, according to the provincial agriculture department’s weekly crop report for the week of September 2. That’s up from 27 per cent last week, and ahead of the five-year (2002-06) average of 31 per cent combined. All areas of the province experienced good harvest […] Read more
Ontario expands RST exemption for farmers
The Ontario government has broadened farmers’ ability to claim exemptions from the province’s eight per cent retail sales tax (RST) to include more equipment and building materials dedicated for on-farm use. The province last week said it would redefine “farming” effective August 28 to allow post-harvest activities such as cleaning, sorting, grading, packing, packaging and […] Read more
ICE taps Hill as WCE chief
IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (ICE) has named the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange’s senior vice-president to step into its retiring president’s shoes. Will Hill replaces Mike Gagne as president and chief operating officer of the WCE. Gagne retired on the August 28 completion of Atlanta-based ICE’s takeover of WCE’s parent firm, WCE Holdings. Hill came to the WCE in […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
